The 2026 college football season will begin with a pair of night games for LSU, each scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. Central Time on ABC.
Prime‑time showdowns
The season opener pits the Tigers against Clemson on Saturday, September 5, while the first SEC test comes a fortnight later at Ole Miss on Saturday, September 19. Both contests will be televised by ABC, giving fans a consistent prime‑time slot as the program kicks off under new head coach Lane Kiffin.
Adding to the excitement, ESPN’s College Gameday will broadcast live from Baton Rouge for the Clemson matchup, marking the first time the popular pre‑game show has set up shop in Louisiana’s capital since the program’s return.
Week 2 brings a home game against Louisiana Tech on September 12, though a kickoff time has yet to be announced. The remainder of LSU’s slate will see additional start times revealed in the coming weeks.
Fans can expect the full schedule to be fleshed out soon, with the university promising to roll out the remaining kickoff times as the season approaches.